APPLETON, Wis. — Blake Roubos’ hat trick led Lawrence University to a 4-2 Northern Collegiate Hockey Association victory over Finlandia University on Saturday at the Appleton Family Ice Center.
The win also clinched a berth in the NCHA playoffs for the Vikings (6-17-2, 5-12-1 NCHA). Lawrence will travel to No. 1-ranked St. Norbert College for a two-game quarterfinal series next Friday and Saturday.
Roubos, a freshman forward, picked up the first hat trick of his career and the first one for a Lawrence player since Marc Howe did it against Northland College on Nov. 21, 2009.
It was Huck Saunders who gave Lawrence the lead with his goal at 12:27 of the first off passes from Roubos and William Thoren.
Roubos made it 2-0 with a power-play goal 4:20 into the second period as Thoren and Steve Hughes collected assists. Roubos gave Lawrence a 3-0 edge when he scored just 2:21 into the third period.
The Lions (3-20-1, 2-16-0) then fought back with a pair of goals. Travis Armstrong scored at the 3:48 mark, and the Lions got a power-play goal from Ryan Daavettila at 9:17 to the cut the lead to 3-2.
Roubos then completed the hat trick with another power-play goal at the 10:51 mark. Thoren got his third assist of the night on that that goal, and Renato Engler picked up his second assist in the game.
Mattias Soderqvist made 26 saves to pick up his second win of the season for Lawrence. Andrew Brownlee was tagged with the loss after allowing the game’s first three goals. He made 21 saves.